Cornet.



P. F. PETERSEN.

CORNET.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 6, 1912:

1,084,869. Patented Jan.20,1914.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER F. PETER/SEN, OF OKLAHOMA, OKLAHOMA.

CORNET.

Application led December 6, 1912.

To all 'whom it may concern Be it known that I, PETER F. PE'rnnsnN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Oklahoma city, in the countyof Oklahoma and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Oornets, of which the following is a specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

As is well known in the art, the cornet and other instruments of thetrumpet class consist of a length of metal tubing, having one of itsends formed into or provided with a mouth-piece and the other end liaredinto a bell, the bore or passage through this tubing being known in thisdescription as the air-line.

In order to cover chromatically the full tone range of the instrument,sections of tubing of different length, known as crooks, are included inthe construction of the instrument, and valve mechanisms are providedfor opening one or more of said crooks in as a part of the air-line.

As heretofore arranged, the cornet is provided with three crooks, eachhaving its respective valve for opening it into the airline, the threevalves being arranged in position to be operable by the first, second,and third lingers of the hand, and being known in their order from themouth-piece end of the instrument as first, second, and third. Thecrooks are made of such length that the opening of the first valvelowers the pitch of the instrument one step; the opening of the secondvalve lowers the instrument one-haltl step; and the opening of the thirdvalve lowers the instrument a step and one-half; the use of all thevalves in combination, therefore, adding enough length to the air-lineto cover chromatically the longest interval between what are known asopen tones.

In orchestral playing, it often becomes necessary to lower theinstrument from the original or normal pitch of B-Hat to A, in order toavoid awkward lingering, this change usually being made by lengthening atelescopic connection which is built into the air-line and commonlyknown as a quick-change slide.

Occasionally, a cornet is provided with a fourth crook, and a valve forsaid crook, for useV as a quick-change device, but, like the telescopicslide, the location and arrangement of said valve are such that itsSpecification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 735,221.

manipulation requires removal of the instrument and hands from playingposition, and the consequent omission of what is often the mostindispensable passage of the music.

One object, therefore, of the invention is to provide means forinstantly changing the pitch of the instrument, and for effecting saidchange without interruption in playing.

Another object is to avoid awkward fingering in passages requiring rapidalternation of valves.

Other objects and advantages of t-he invention will be set forth in theensuing description.

Referring to the drawings- Figure 1 is a right-hand side elevation of acornet embodying the principles of the invention. Fig. 2 is a left-handside elevation of the cornet, with the front or bell portion broken awayto expose other parts to view. Fig. 3 is a fragmental plan view of t-heinstrument, with no parts shown below the line X-X of Fig. 2. Fig. 4; isan enlarged elevation view in the same direction as Fig. 2, showing alocking arm. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the end finger piece, showingthe lateral lip with which the said finger piece is provided.

Referring to the several figures, in all of which like characters ofreference designate like parts, the cornet shown comprises, in part, theusual length of tubing 10, which is provided with the mouthpiece 11 andbell 12. At each of the usual three points in the length of the tubing10, a valve-casing is built into it, the bore of the tubingcommunicating with said valve-casings. These three valve-casings 13, 14,and 15 are provided with crooks 16, 17, and 18, respectively, and withinner valves of the well known piston type adapted, when shifted fromnormal position, to open said crooks into the air-line of theinstrument, each valve being yieldably held to the upper or normal endof its throw by resilient means of well known arrangement. The valvemechanism in each valve-casing is -provided with a stem 19 whichprojects up through the cap 2O of said valve-casing and terminates in afinger-button 21. The instrument thus described is not materially different from those in common use.

In carrying out the objects stated, a fourth valve-casing 22, having acrook 23 Patented Jan.2o,1914.

of half-step length and an inner valve mechanism for said crook, isbuilt-into the instrument immediately adjacent the third valve-casing ofthe original three, t-hereby placing said fourth valve-casing where itsvalve may be operated by the fourth finger of the hand which manipulatesthe original three. 1n thus placing the fourth valvecasing Q2, its valvemanipulation for changing the pitch of the instrument is effectedinstantly, thus enabling the performer to shift the pitch at willwithout any interruption in playing.

While the invention, in its broader meaning, comprehends valvemechanisms of any suitable construction and arrangement, it is possiblypreferable to employ valves of the piston type shown, the fourth oradded valve-casing 22 and its valve mechanism being placed directly inalinement with the original three valve-casings 13, 14, and 15 as shown.Vith the fourth valve mechanism placed in this way, and having thevertical movement of the piston-valve, it may be depressed withoutinterruption, and the improved locking means later described may bedisengaged therefrom by the same finger which manipulates said valvemechanism.

1n order that the fourth valve may be temporarily locked in depressedposition, as occasionally found convenient, a locking arm, best shown inFig. il, is provided. Vithin the meaning' and intent of the invention,this arm 24 may be arranged in any suitable manner, and have movement inany direction with relation to the parts which it locks, but in thepresent instance and for reasons which later appear, the arm 24 ismovable in a horizontal plane at right angles to the line of movement ofthe part which it engages, said arm being provided with a verticalpivotal stem 25 which eX- tends down into a tubular bearing 26 mountedupon and parallel with the valve-casing 22. This pivotal stem 25, whichis of elastic material, is bifurcated from its lower end upward aconsiderable distance, and in its natural or unstrained state standsopened outward, as shown in Fig. t. By this arrangement, the stem 25,when inserted down into the tubular bearing 26, will frictionally bindsaid bearing and hold the arm 24 in either locked or unlocked position.The lower end of the pivotal stem 25 is provided with projections 27which hook under the lower end of the bearing 26 and hold said stemagainst withdrawal upward. The finger-button 28 of the fourth or addedvalve mechanism is provided with a short laterally-projecting lip 29,with which the arm 24C engages to hold said mechanism in depressedposition. ln thus placing the pivotal point of the arm 2li between thevalvecasings and the rear or reduced portion of the bell 12, the freeend of said arm is readily swung to locking engagement with thefinger-button 2S by the first finger of the hand which supports theinstrument, said finger naturally extending upward and across over saidrear portion of the bell 1Q in convenient position for this movement.

yln releasing` the locking engagement of the arm 2st, it is swung awayfrom the finger-button QS by the end of the finger which depresses saidnger-button, the released valve then following said finger upward andrestoring the instrument to normal pitch. 1n thus locating the fourth oradded valve and arranging the locking mechanism described, the movementsrequired in playing or in changing pitch are merely fingers endmanipulations of the finger-button* 2S and the locking arm 2st.

ln addition to the quick-ch ange advantage afforded by the fourth valveas placed and arranged, said valve may be used in combination with oneor more of the original three to obviate difficult or cross fingeringencountered in thrills or other rapid alternations between tones.

Having thus described the invention, I claim l. A cornet or like musicalinstrument including a series of slidably mounted reciprocatingvalve-members provided with finger pieces adapted to be engaged by thefingers of the hand manipulating the cornet, yielding` means normallytending to move the valve members outwardly against the pressure of thefingers, and locking means controlled by the fingers fo-r holding one ofthe valve members in a depressed position.

2. A cornet or like musical instrument including a series of slidablymounted reciprocating valve members provided with finger pieces,yielding means normally tending to move the valve members outwardlyagainst the pressure of the fingers, and a laterally swinging lockingmember controlled by the fingers and adapted to engage one of the valvemembers to hold it in a depressed position.

3. A cornet or like musical instrument including a series of slidablymounted reciprocating valve members provided with finger pieces, a lipprojecting laterally from one of the finger pieces, and a laterallyswinging locking arm adapted to be brought into engagement with the lipto retain the finger giece in a depressed position.

e. A cornet or like musical instrument including a series of slidablymounted reciprocating valve members provided with finger pieces, alaterally projecting lip, carried by one of the finger pieces, a bearingsleeve, a stem rotatable within the bearing sleeve, and a locking armcarried by the stem and adapted to be moved over the lip to hold thefinger piece in a depressed position.

5. A cornet or like musical instrument including a series of slidablymounted reciprocating valve members provided With linger pieces, abearing sleeve, a bifurcated stem fitted removably Within the sleeve,the arms of the bifurcated end of the stem having a spring action andbeing provided with shoulders normally engaging the end of the bearingsleeve to hold the stem in position therein, and a locking armprojecting from the stem and adapted to be brought into engagement Withone of the finger pieces to hold the same in a depressed position.

6. A cornet or like musical instrument including a series of slidablymounted reciprocating valve members provided With finger pieces,yielding means normally tending to move the valve members outwardlyagainst the action of the lingers, a laterally projecting lip upon oneof the finger pieces, a bearing sleeve, a stem rotatably mounted Withinthe bearing sleeve and formed with a bifurcated end, the arms of thebifurcation having a spring action and being provided With shouldersadapted to engage the end of the sleeve to retain the stem in positiontherein, and a locking arm carried by the stem and adapted to be swungover the before-mentioned lip of one of the lingen1 pieces to retain thesaid linger piece in a `depressed position.

fitness my hand this 30 day of November, i912.

PETER F. PETERSEN. l/Vitnesses FRANK P. SHEPARD, GERTRUDE CHAFFEE.

Copiel of this patent may be obtained tor ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C.

